US4873427A - Card or pass in plastic material incorporating an integrated memory circuit - Google Patents

Card or pass in plastic material incorporating an integrated memory circuit Download PDF

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Publication number
US4873427A
US4873427A US07/076,931 US7693187A US4873427A US 4873427 A US4873427 A US 4873427A US 7693187 A US7693187 A US 7693187A US 4873427 A US4873427 A US 4873427A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
card
memory
contact
contacts
memory circuit
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Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/076,931
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English (en)
Inventor
Antonio Virdia
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PENTASYSTEM SpA
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PENTASYSTEM SpA
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Assigned to PENTASYSTEM S.P.A. reassignment PENTASYSTEM S.P.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: VIRDIA, ANTONIO
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Publication of US4873427A publication Critical patent/US4873427A/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
    • G06K19/07743—External electrical contacts
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/08—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a card or pass formed of plastic material and incorporating an integrated memory circuit and an univocal optical code for identification of the card.
  • Such supports are for instance widely used for credit cards, automatic cash-point cards and identification passes.
  • Such a memory support is useful in all of those cases where high data safety and protection against fraud resulting from unlawful manipulation are required.
  • it is utilized for electronic memory credit cards where data safety and small dimensions of the electronic device are fundamental to the reliability of the product.
  • the data protection devices presently available are obtained by providing in the card a further device (normally a suitably programmed single chip microprocessor) which works as a filter between the memory and the outside world.
  • This device or microprocessor can also be on the same silicon chip which houses the memory matrix.
  • Such an arrangement entails a series of drawbacks.
  • the microprocessor occupies a considerable area of the silicon chip, with the consequence of increasing considerably the cost of the device.
  • the microprocessor requires a series of interfacing signals towards the external world (clock, reset...) which necessarily complicate the connection with the writing/reading devices.
  • the program contained on the microprocessor can be read by using suitable techniques, thus making the system less safe.
  • the presently available cards or passes, of the type to which the present invention applies foresee more than four external electric contacts, on two rows, for connection with the internal circuit. Since the electric and mechanical reliability of such devices is in inverse ratio to the number of connecting contacts, the assembly is of poor reliability during usage. Moreover, the writing and reading devices to be used with this support are complex and expensive owing to the intrinsical difficulty of carrying out contact means which maintain a good alignment in the course of time.
  • One object of this invention is therefore to carry out a credit card or similar device which is extremely strong, that is as flexible and capable of withstanding wear and tear as much as possible, which allows for protection of the data contained in an electronic memory, not including programmed logic, against access and/or alteration attempts from unauthorized persons, and to allow the reading and/or writing with devices less complicated than the existing ones.
  • a support comprising an integrated memory circuit of EEPROM technology is provided.
  • This is connected with the outside only through four contacts and contains voltage conversion circuits able to generate internally, starting from a single voltage (for instance 5 volts), the one necessary to the programming of the memory cells, with the consequence that the integrated circuit works with a single feeding voltage.
  • a single voltage for instance 5 volts
  • An input signal (for instance at 5 volts in continuous current ⁇ 5%) is transmitted and through another contact a connection with the input outgoing line is foreseen.
  • a logical type signal passes through a further contact and acts as clock signal for data and instructions and an open drain bi-directional line (SDA) passes through a fourth contact which acts as support for data and instructions.
  • the signals have the logical "zero" included between -1 V and 0.8 V and the logical "one" included between 2 V and VCC+0.5 V.
  • An improvement provides for the integrated memory circuit to have an asynchronous serial interface on two wires and contains the necessary circuits for handling a feeding protocol with an external writing and/or reading device for handling the writing timing, for the random access to any memory byte and for any other operation which might be required.
  • a further improvement provides for the integrated memory circuit to be implemented with a digital filter to filter the disturbances which may be present on the communication lines with the external world.
  • the four contacts are arranged on a single line, so as to increase the resistance of the card to mechanical stress.
  • a further improvement provides for the thickness of the seat which receives the portion of the integrated circuit to be bigger than the thickness of the integrated circuit.
  • the only support of the integrated circuit are the four tracks coming out from one side only, so that the integrated circuit can slightly move inside the seat while the support is bent, with no damage to the connecting tracks or to the integrated circuit itself.
  • each card can also be made for each card to have an internal code inside the card itself, the code being utilized as a component of the entry key to the information contained in the integrated circuit.
  • this internal code is of the optical type and the card support is transparent to infrared rays.
  • the internal code may be inserted in the card by means of two different codification systems, one being the logical complement to the other, so that the alteration, for instance by adding on the surface ink opaque to infrared rays, of an area carrying the code written in the first codification system, obliges a forger to carry out a corresponding alteration on the other area, i.e. the removal of part of the ink forming the code written in the second codification system, which is impossible without destroying the support incorporating the code written in the two complementary codification systems.
  • FIG. 1 shows a view of one face of the card or pass according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a view of the other face of the card or pass according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows a variation of the internal side of a layer forming the card or pass, duly treated
  • FIG. 4 shows a view in enlarged section of the card or pass according to the invention
  • FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the section of the card or pass of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 shows an enlarged top view of the group: integrated circuit - connecting tracks - supporting film.
  • the card or pass 10 consists of various layers of shock-resistant plastic film transparent to infrared light, attached to one another for instance by thermopressure welding. Inside these layers 15a and 15b a seat is provided for an integrated memory circuit 22 externally connected by means of four small electrical contacts, 11, 12, 13 and 14 respectively.
  • a band 16 of magnetizable material suitable for supporting information and compatible with the reading and writing systems presently used, can be applied.
  • the magnetic band 16 is positioned on the paper in conformity with ISO standard or in any other area it needs to be placed.
  • the magnetic band can be obtained both by smearing of magnetic ink and by applying a suitable magnetic strip.
  • optical codes are printed along the portions indicated respectively with 18a and 18b by means of ink opaque to infrared rays.
  • These optical codes can be read in transparency by means of an infrared light source and an optical detector working on the same wavelength.
  • a feasible way to prevent tampering of the optical code includes the printing in the two different areas 18a and 18b of an identical code, for instance a number, by two different codification systems, one being the logical complement of the other.
  • the reading device will allow access to the information only after verifying whether the same code is present on both areas 18a and 18b. A forger who would want to alter the code would have to change both the areas, one complementary to the other, so as to keep their congruity unaltered.
  • a seat 19 is provided internally inside which an integrated circuit 22, covered by a suitable anti-dampness resin 23 and supported by metallic tracks 21, is placed.
  • the metallic tracks are kept together by means of a kapton film 20; they come out from only one side of the integrated circuit and in their bending area 21a are free, i.e. not connected to the kapton film (FIG. 5 and 6).
  • Such an arrangement allows, in the case of bending and/or twisting of the card, a good chance of movement to the integrated circuit inside seat 19, without the presence of destructive mechanical stress which would occur should the tracks 21 come out from various sides of the integrated circuit 22, or in the case they were coupled to the film 20 in the bending area.
  • the contacts 11, 12, 13 and 14 are welded to the tracks 21 thanks to the particular shape of the latter, i.e. free on both sides in the welding area 21b. (FIG. 6). In the contrary case the presence of the kapton film would make a strong weld a problem.
  • the integrated circuit is a memory capable of storing information even without feed and allowing its subsequent change by means of electrical signals.
  • the memory capacity of the integrated circuit depends on the specific use and on the integrated circuit chosen. Data retention capacity, without alteration of the information, is at least 10 years.
  • the technology of the integrated circuit is the EEPROM one with a voltage converter on the chip capable to generate the programming voltage.
  • a digital filter is implemented on the integrated circuit to clear the clock and data lines from external disturbances, thus increasing the safety of the data transmitted and/or received.
  • the interface between the memory and the outside world is of the serial type.
  • the connection with the outside is through metallic contacts 11, 12, 13 and 14.
  • the contacts have an approx. 1.76 mm ⁇ 2.86 mm. dimension.
  • FIG. 5 shows enlarged seat 19 which receives the film portion and the integrated circuit.
  • the integrated circuit can move as free interspaces 40 and 41 are provided in front of the lower and upper sides of the support.
  • the integrated circuit thus has a certain moving space in case the card is bent.
  • the area of the contacts 11, 12, 13 and 14 on the contrary is provided without interspaces which could allow oscillations, thus insuring a constant contact.
  • an anti-static treatment can be provided, for instance by depositing conductive lacquers.
  • a particular electric signal is related to each contact 11, 12, 13 and 14. More precisely, according to the preferred embodiment, contact 11 is related to the input incoming line at 5 Volts (VCC); contact 12 is related to the input outgoing line (VSS), contact 13 is related to the incoming line of the data synchronizing clock (SCL); contact 14 is related to the two-directional line of the serial data (SDA).
  • VCC Volts
  • SCS data synchronizing clock
  • SDA serial data
  • VCC +5 V in direct current ⁇ 5%
  • SCL signal which has the logical zero comprised between -1 and +0.8 V and the logical one comprised between 2 V and VCC+0.5 V.
  • the frequency field allowed is between 0 and 100 kilohertz.
  • the duration of a low half-cycle is not inferior to 4.7 microseconds, and of a high half-cycle is not inferior to 4 microseconds.
  • SDA represents the two-directional line at open drain having the same electrical characteristics of signal SCL.
  • the logical zero included between -1 V and +0.8 V is also defined as low logical level.
  • the logical one included between 2 V and VCC+0.8 V is also defined as high logical level.
  • the reading/writing device provides the clock signal for data transfer from and to memory.
  • the SDA line can change status only while SCL is low. Status variations of SDA while SCL is high are only to indicate START and STOP conditions.
  • the data receiving device after having received eight data or command bits informs the transmitting device of the acceptance; to do so during the ninth clock cycle the receiver puts the SDA line low starting an identification. The absence of such identification indicates that the receiving device is engaged and the operation is to be tried again. It is foreseen that the data and/or control bytes are sent out starting from the most significant bit.
  • a group consists of eight bytes where the first byte is in a memory location of a multiple of 8 address.
  • the memory For the writing operation of 1 byte, the memory requires a second address field of 8 bits, which specifies which one of the 256 memory cells of the selected page will be used, following by the value (1 byte) to be written in the memory and by the STOP condition.
  • the process is similar to the 1 byte writing operation, supplying as address the one of the group first byte, followed by 8 data bytes and by the STOP condition.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Navigation (AREA)
  • Storage Device Security (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
  • Macromolecular Compounds Obtained By Forming Nitrogen-Containing Linkages In General (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Polymers With Sulfur, Phosphorus Or Metals In The Main Chain (AREA)
  • Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
  • Photoreceptors In Electrophotography (AREA)
US07/076,931 1985-10-23 1986-07-08 Card or pass in plastic material incorporating an integrated memory circuit Expired - Fee Related US4873427A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT22594A/85 1985-10-23
IT8522594A IT1214634B (it) 1985-10-23 1985-10-23 Supporto per carta o tesserino in materiale plastico inglobante un circuito integrato di memoria.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4873427A true US4873427A (en) 1989-10-10

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US07/076,931 Expired - Fee Related US4873427A (en) 1985-10-23 1986-07-08 Card or pass in plastic material incorporating an integrated memory circuit

Country Status (12)

Country Link
US (1) US4873427A (de)
EP (1) EP0277940B1 (de)
JP (1) JPS63501783A (de)
KR (1) KR880700366A (de)
AT (1) ATE53136T1 (de)
AU (1) AU593569B2 (de)
BR (1) BR8607203A (de)
CA (1) CA1319196C (de)
DE (1) DE3671555D1 (de)
FI (1) FI881907A7 (de)
IT (1) IT1214634B (de)
WO (1) WO1987002807A1 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5548106A (en) * 1994-08-30 1996-08-20 Angstrom Technologies, Inc. Methods and apparatus for authenticating data storage articles
US5719948A (en) * 1994-06-24 1998-02-17 Angstrom Technologies, Inc. Apparatus and methods for fluorescent imaging and optical character reading
US5932869A (en) * 1996-12-27 1999-08-03 Graphic Technology, Inc. Promotional system with magnetic stripe and visual thermo-reversible print surfaced medium
USD514619S1 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-02-07 Retail Royalty Company Credit card
US20090111522A1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2009-04-30 Javier Canis Robles Smart Card and Method for Manufacturing Said Card

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4000134A1 (de) * 1990-01-04 1991-07-11 Maschf Augsburg Nuernberg Ag Datenerfassungs- und auswertesystem mit einem datentraeger
DE19608513A1 (de) * 1996-03-05 1997-09-11 Siemens Ag Chipkarte mit ESD-Schutz
EP1727080A1 (de) * 2005-05-27 2006-11-29 Axalto S.A. SIM mit zwei Kontaktanordnungen, die vor Kurzschluss geschützt sind
ES2288137A1 (es) * 2006-03-09 2007-12-16 Microelectronica Española S.A.U. Tarjeta inteligente y metodo de fabricacion de dicha tarjeta.

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4004133A (en) * 1974-12-30 1977-01-18 Rca Corporation Credit card containing electronic circuit

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2920012C2 (de) * 1979-05-17 1988-09-29 GAO Gesellschaft für Automation und Organisation mbH, 8000 München Ausweiskarte mit IC-Baustein und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer derartigen Ausweiskarte
GB2067467B (en) * 1980-01-11 1983-09-28 Beaumont D E Transaction card device having an electrical operated circuit
DE3130206A1 (de) * 1981-07-30 1983-02-17 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Tragbare karte zur informationsverarbeitung
FR2548801A2 (fr) * 1983-03-11 1985-01-11 Thomson Brandt Carte a lecture optique portant des informations numeriques et systeme de controle d'acces a des informations diffusees utilisant une telle carte
JPS59229686A (ja) * 1983-06-09 1984-12-24 Toshiba Corp Ｉｃカ−ド
DE3338597A1 (de) * 1983-10-24 1985-05-02 GAO Gesellschaft für Automation und Organisation mbH, 8000 München Datentraeger mit integriertem schaltkreis und verfahren zur herstellung desselben
US4539472A (en) * 1984-01-06 1985-09-03 Horizon Technology, Inc. Data processing card system and method of forming same

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4004133A (en) * 1974-12-30 1977-01-18 Rca Corporation Credit card containing electronic circuit

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5719948A (en) * 1994-06-24 1998-02-17 Angstrom Technologies, Inc. Apparatus and methods for fluorescent imaging and optical character reading
US5867586A (en) * 1994-06-24 1999-02-02 Angstrom Technologies, Inc. Apparatus and methods for fluorescent imaging and optical character reading
US5548106A (en) * 1994-08-30 1996-08-20 Angstrom Technologies, Inc. Methods and apparatus for authenticating data storage articles
US5932869A (en) * 1996-12-27 1999-08-03 Graphic Technology, Inc. Promotional system with magnetic stripe and visual thermo-reversible print surfaced medium
USD514619S1 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-02-07 Retail Royalty Company Credit card
US20090111522A1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2009-04-30 Javier Canis Robles Smart Card and Method for Manufacturing Said Card

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI881907A0 (fi) 1988-04-22
EP0277940A1 (de) 1988-08-17
EP0277940B1 (de) 1990-05-23
BR8607203A (pt) 1988-09-13
IT1214634B (it) 1990-01-18
DE3671555D1 (de) 1990-06-28
KR880700366A (ko) 1988-03-15
IT8522594A0 (it) 1985-10-23
AU593569B2 (en) 1990-02-15
AU6126686A (en) 1987-05-19
FI881907L (fi) 1988-04-22
ATE53136T1 (de) 1990-06-15
CA1319196C (en) 1993-06-15
JPS63501783A (ja) 1988-07-21
FI881907A7 (fi) 1988-04-22
WO1987002807A1 (en) 1987-05-07

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Owner name: PENTASYSTEM S.P.A., VIA CALEPINA, 50 - 38100 TRENT

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:VIRDIA, ANTONIO;REEL/FRAME:004900/0463

Effective date: 19870626

Owner name: PENTASYSTEM S.P.A.,ITALY

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Effective date: 19891017

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Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362